Bird feeder

ABSTRACT

The bird feeder includes an elongated plastic tank having a series of axially spaced groups of feeding apertures about its periphery. The tank is sandwiched between base and top members, the top member including an access aperture and cover for filling it with food. Positioned about the exterior of the tank are a series of vertical perches on which the birds can perch in generally sideways fashion to eat.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to bird feeders and, more particularly, to anovel bird feeder employing a vertical perch upon which the birds restin sideways fashion to feed.

It is known in the art to provide vertical types of feeders havingapertures in the sidewall thereof through which the food is accessibleto the birds. A problem with such feeders in the past has been therelatively limited number of birds which can feed at a given time. Thiscapacity restriction is the result, primarily, of the use of horizontalperches upon which the birds sit as they feed. Prior art feeders,insofar as known to the present inventor, have used this type of perchexclusively.

OBJECTS AND SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of this invention to provide a bird feeder which is notsubject to the limited access drawbacks of prior art feeders. It is alsoan object of this invention to provide such a feeder which can be easilymanufactured at relative inexpense, can be easily cleaned and/or filledand which is designed to substantially eliminate the wasting of feed.

These and other objects of this invention are accomplished by providinga bird feeder including an elongated, tubular food stroage tank havingsidewalls surrounding a central axis and a series of vertically spacedfeed access apertures in the sidewall. Means are provided to positionthe tank with its axis generally vertical. An elongated, vertical perchis positioned generally parallel to the axis of the tank on the exteriorthereof in generally adjacent relationship to at least two of thevertically spaced apertures, thereby permitting several birds to feedfrom the apertures while perched in generally sideways orientation onthe perch.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the bird feeder which is the subject ofthis invention;

FIG. 2 is a fragmentary, vertical section taken through the center ofthe feeder illustrated in FIG. 1 with the attachment rod assembly showncomplete;

FIG. 3 is a horizontal section taken along the plane III--III of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of this invention;and

FIG. 5 is a front-elevational view of the embodiment of the inventionshown in FIG. 4.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

Referring initially to FIGS. 1-3, the single-tank bird feeder 10 whichforms a first embodiment of this invention includes a base assembly 12,preferably fabricated from wood. Base assembly 12 includes a generallyhorizontal platform 13 having an upstanding ledge 14 thereabout which,conveniently, may be made by tacking wooden strips to the side ofplatform 13. Base assembly 12 includes a central, circular feedingtube-receiving depression 15 having an interior diameter just slightlylarger than the exterior diameter of the tube or tank member 30 to bediscussed hereinafter. Base assembly 12 also includes a series of fourblind perch-receiving apertures 16, an attachment rod aperture 17, aself-adhering nut 18 and drain holes 19.

Top assembly 20 includes a generally flat, rectangular block of wood 21also having a central, circular feeding tube-receiving aperture 22protruding into it from its lower surface. Aperture 22, approximatelyone-half way through block 21, necks down to form a reduced-diameteraccess opening 23, the same providing a shoulder 24 against which theupper, peripheral wall of tube 30 abuts.

The upper surface of block 21 is provided with two, diametricallyopposite, yoke-receiving grooves 25 adjacent access opening 23. Thesegrooves, as will become apparent hereinafter, receive the yoke of theattachment rod assembly 40 during assembly of the device.

Block 21 also incorporates four perch apertures 26 which, conveniently,may extend completely through. The top assembly 20 is completed by abail member 27 suitable for carrying and hanging the assembled feeder.

Tubular feed container 30 is preferably fabricated from clear plastic,such as polyethylene, in the form of a right, circular cylinder 31.Spaced about the periphery of cylinder 31 at 90° intervals arevertically displaced groupings of feed access openings 32, four suchperipherally spaced openings being provided at each level.

The attachment rod assembly 40 includes an elongated rod 41 threaded atits lower extremity so as to mate with nut 18. The upper extremity ofrod 41 includes a right-angled bend 42 to which is affixed a yoke 43having diametrically opposite, extending arms 44. The extremities ofarms 44, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, nestwithin yoke-receiving grooves 25 of top block 21.

Assembly of the unit as described to this point is accomplished bymerely placing base 12 on a surface, nesting feed container 30 in thecircular depression thereof and placing block 21 thereon with the upperextremity of cylinder 31 extending into aperture 23 and abuttingshoulder 24. Attachment rod assembly 40 is then inserted in the positionshown, and the top and bottom components rotated with respect to oneanother. This rotation causes the threaded end of rod 41 to enter nut 18thereby tensioning rod 41 to firmly sandwich tube 31 between baseassembly 12 and top assembly 20. Rotation is stopped at a point wherefour, blind, perch-receiving apertures 16 in base assembly 12 are invertical alignment with perch apertures 26 in top assembly 20.

Four, elongated perch rods 50, which conveniently may take the form ofwooden or plastic dowels, are then inserted from the top throughapertures 26 downwardly until their lower extremities nest within blindapertures 16 in base assembly 12. The bird feeder is completed byattachment of a cap assembly 60 comprising a block of sufficientdimensions to overlie apertures 26. Cap assembly 60 includes a knob 62suitably secured by a screw 63 which, conveniently, can also fastenthereto a spring-steel retainer 64 having opposed, resilient arms 65.Arms 65, as will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, retainthe cap in abutment with top assembly 20, except when the feeder isbeing filled, cleaned or the like.

Referring now to FIGS. 4 and 5, a modified embodiment of this inventionincludes two, separate feeding tanks and adjacent sets of perches.Modified embodiment 70 includes a base assembly 12', also preferablyfabricated from wood, having a platform 13' with upstanding ledges 14'thereabout. Two, circular feeding tube-receiving depressions 15' areprovided in the upper surface of platform 13'. Four, blind,perch-receiving apertures 16' are positioned about each depression 15'.Attachment rod aperture 17', in this case, is located betweendepressions 15' and incorporates a nut 18' of the type described inconnection with the first embodiment. Platform 13' contains drain holds19' to permit the drainage of moisture.

Top assembly 20' includes rectangular, wooden block 21' having two,spaced, circular feeding tube-receiving apertures 22' therein, thespacing corresponding to that of the depressions 15' in base assembly12'. Two, reduced diameter access openings 23' are provided, eachforming, at its junction with aperture 22', a shoulder 24' against whichthe tubular feed container 30' is adapted to abut. An aperture 75 isprovided for passage of rod 73 therethrough.

The attachment rod assembly 72 comprises an elongated rod 73 threaded atits lower end to mate with nut 18'. The upper extremity of rod 73 hasaffixed thereto a circular shoulder adpated to bear against cap 80 to behereinafter described. The rod 73 terminates at its upper extremity in aloop 82 by which assembly 70 can be carried or hung from a suitablesupport.

The assembly 70 of FIGS. 4 and 5 is completed by a wooden cap 80 havingan aperture 81 through the center thereof. Cap 80, again, is preferablysized so as to overlie the upper extremities of perch apertures 26 and,thus, retain the perches 50' in position during utilization of the birdfeeder.

Assembly of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 is accomplished byplacing tubular feed containers 30', identical to the containers 30discussed previously, into the depressions 15' in the base assembly 12'.The top assembly 20' is then placed over the top of the cylinders 30'with the upper extremities of the cylinders protruding into apertures22' and abutting shoulder 24'. The eight, vertical perches 50', alsoidentical to those discussed previously, are then fed from the topthrough apertures 26' and their lower extremities nested within blindapertures 16'. At this point, cap 80 is positioned over top assembly 20'and rod 73 threaded into nut 18'. Tensioning of this rod, of course,secures bird feeder 70 in fully assembled condition. Rod assembly 72,conveniently, may be permanently attached to cap 80 to facilitate matingof its lower extremity with nut 18'.

Birds feed from the feeders which are the subject of this invention byperching generally sideways on the perches 50 and 50'. Access to thefood is gained by inserting their beaks into the apertures 32 and 32'.Many birds, as will be readily appreciated by those skilled in the art,can align themselves on each of the perches 50 in this orientation totake feed from the apertures 32. The embodiment of FIGS. 1-3, forexample, can accommodate twenty birds, each with its own aperture 32 andmore where apertures are shared. The embodiment of FIGS. 4 and 5,similarly, provides forty single-bird apertures.

The bird feeding apparatus which is the subject of the present inventionhas experienced considerable success in the feeding of small birds, suchas finches, siskins, redpolls and chickadees. Best results have beenexperienced with the utilization of Niger (sometimes thistle) feed,crushed sunflower seeds and provo-millet.

Satisfactory experience has been obtained through the use of feed tubes30 and 30' having a length of approximately 18 inches and a diameter ofapproximately 23/4 inches. The horizontal groupings of feed aperturesare placed at 3 inch vertical intervals, the first commencing near theexposed bottom of the tube. The apertures, in the preferred embodimentof the invention, are oval-shaped having a horizontal dimension ofapproximately 1/8 inch and a vertical dimension of approximately 1/4inch. These spacings, of course, may be varied.

The perches, preferably, take the form of 3/16 inch diameter plasticdowels. Their centers are spaced from the exterior sidewall of tubes 31and 31' approximately 5/16 inch. The position of the feed apertures withrespect to the perches can be varied, as desired, by rotating tubes 31and 31' within their respective assemblies. Best results have beenobtained when the apertures are spaced approximately midway between theperches.

The upstanding ledges 14 and 14' surrounding platforms 13 and 13',respectively, retain food which has fallen from the apertures on thefeeding station. The birds may perch in conventional eating orientationon these ledges to gain access to this food. They may, alternatively,eat the same while positioned near the lower extremities of the perches50. The ledges function, in either event, to prevent the waste of foodand, except during periods of extreme wind, do so with maximumefficiency.

It has been found in testing the feeders which are the subject of thisinvention that water sometimes tends to collect in the lower portions oftubes 31 and 31'. This can be remedied, where necessary, by placing aplug having a right, circular cylinder configuration in the base oftubes 31 and 31' such that the same rest on base members 12 and 12'. Theplug, which can conveniently be formed from plastic, has a diameteralmost equal to the inner diameter of the tubes and a height ofapproximately 3/4 inch. It must be provided with an aperture for passageof rod 41 therethrough in the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1-3. Nosuch aperture, obviously, is necessary for use with the embodimentillustrated in FIGS. 4 and 5.

While two preferred embodiments of this invention have been described indetail, it will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art thatother embodiments may be conceived and fabricated without departing fromthe spirit and scope of this specification and the appended drawings.Such other embodiments are to be deemed as included within the scope ofthe following claims, unless these claims, by their language, expresslystate otherwise.

The embodiments of the invention in which an exclusive property orprivilege is claimed are defined as follows:
 1. A bird feedercomprising: an elongated, tubular food storage tank having sidewallssurrounding a central axis; means to position said tank with said axisgenerally vertical; a series of vertically spaced apertures in saidsidewalls; an elongated vertical perch; and means for positioning saidperch generally parallel to said axis on the exterior of said tank ingenerally adjacent relationship to at least two of said verticallyspaced aperture whereby several birds can feed from said apertures whileperched in generally sideways orientation on said perch.
 2. The feederas set forth in claim 1 wherein there are a series of vertical perchesso positioned about the exterior of said tank and wherein said aperturesare peripherally as well as vertically spaced in said sidewall.
 3. Thefeeder as set forth in claim 2 wherein said tank is open at both endsand which further comprises a base member underlying the lower open endof said tank; a top member overlying the upper end of said tank andmeans for compressing said tank between said base and top members. 4.The feeder as set forth in claim 3 wherein said perches extend betweensaid base and top members.
 5. The feeder as set forth in claim 4 whereinsaid perches comprise elongated dowels nested within vertically alignedblind apertures in said base member and through apertures in said topmember whereby said perches can be attached to said feeder by passingthem downwardly through said through apertures into said blindapertures.
 6. The feeder as set forth in claim 5 wherein said top memberhas an opening therethrough permitting access to the interior of saidtank and which further comprises a cover member and means for releasablyretaining said cover member on said top member, said cover member, whenso retained, overlying said through apertures to retain said perches insaid feeder.
 7. The feeder as set forth in claim 6 wherein said tank iscircular, wherein said base member contains a circular depression on itsupper surface receiving the lower end of said tank and wherein saidupper member has a circular depression in its undersurface receiving theupper end of said tank, said depressions laterally stabilizing said tankwith respect to said base and top members.
 8. The feeder as set forth inclaim 7 wherein said compressing means comprises an elongated rod havinga yoke with oppositely extending arms at the top thereof; wherein saidtop member includes grooves in its upper surface for nestably receivingsaid arms and wherein said rod passes through said tank and is attachedto said base member in axially adjustable fashion.
 9. The feeder as setforth in claim 7 wherein there are two of said tanks compressed betweensaid top and base members and wherein said compressing means comprisesan elongated rod positioned between said tanks and affixed in tensionbetween said top and base members.